Eupithecia mediata, Šumpich & Mironov, 2022

Šumpich, Jan & Mironov, Vladimir, 2022, New species of the genus Eupithecia (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) from China. Part VIII, Zootaxa 5194 (4), pp. 561-574 : 564

Eupithecia mediata sp. n.

( Figs 5 , 19 , 23 )

Type material: Holotype, ♂, China, N Sichuan, Road Jiuzhaigou / Songpan , 2900 m, 33°08.770ʹ N, 103°43.624ʹ E, 21.v.2017, A. Saldaitis leg. Gen. prep. J. Procházka 20133, Photo J. Šumpich 22106 ( NMPC) . Paratype 1 ♂, the same locality, date and collector ( NMPC) .

Diagnosis. This species belongs to the lariciata species group ( Bolte 1990). It is similar to the Chinese E. stomachosa Vojnits, 1980 . However, on the fore wings of the new species the discal dots are larger, and the medial area between the antemedial and medial transverse lines darker. The combination of shape of valve, short, stout and broad uncus and two apical patches of short horn-like cornuti on the vesica of the aedeagus in the male genitalia, as well as the shape of eighth sternite in the male easily distinguish this species from other representatives of this species in the Chinese fauna.

Description. Adult. ( Figs 5 , 19 ). Male. Wingspan 18.0 mm; fore wing 11.0 mm. Head and notum covered with yellowish scales. Fore wing with slightly curved costal margin and narrowly rounded apex. Ground colour brown; basal transverse line right angled; antemedial and medial lines oblique, sharply angled respectively before and behind discal dot; postmedial line right angled near costa; terminal area darker near apex with pale indented subterminal line; pale tornal spot very small; terminal line blackish, interrupted by veins; discal dot relatively large, ovoid, black. Hind wing paler with traces of dark transverse lines; terminal area darker, brownish grey with indented pale subterminal line; terminal line narrow, blackish, interrupted by veins; discal dot small, ovoid, smaller and paler than on the fore wing. Fringe brownish, slightly chequered with darker and paler areas.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 23 ). Uncus biapical, short and broad, stout; enlarged near apex, when viewed laterally. Valve large, elongate, with evenly curved ventral margin and small ventral process; apex rounded; sacculus lightly sclerotized. Vinculum rather narrow and short, semicircular. Papillae on the anterior arms of labides elongate, narrow, in apical half covered with long setae. Aedeagus slim, elongate and narrow. Vesica multiply granulate, armed with two apical patches of short, stout horn-like cornuti, one elongate, plate-like cornutus and one smaller, folded, irregular cornutus at ductus ejaculatorius base. Sternite A8 peg-like, broadened and bilobed basally; apex more sclerotized with two small and short, rounded horns; basal hollow short and shallow.

Female. Unknown.

Bionomy. Host plant unknown. The holotype was collected by light in May at an elevation of 2900 m ( Fig. 39 ) .

Distribution. China. Known from Sichuan province.

Etymology. From latin word “medius”—“medium” in english.

Figures

FIGURES 1–6. Eupithecia adults, China, holotypes (scale bars = 10 mm). 1. E. galsworthyi sp. n.; 2. E. fossaria sp. n.; 3. E. eremiata sp. n.; 4. E. panacea sp. n.; 5. E. mediata sp. n.; 6. E. caementariata sp. n.

FIGURES 15–20. Heads of Eupithecia species, China, holotypes. 15. E. galsworthyi sp. n.; 16. E. fossaria sp. n.; 17. E. eremiata sp. n.; 18. E. panacea sp. n.; 19. E. mediata sp. n.; 20. E. caementariata sp. n.

FIGURES 21–24. Male genitalia and sternite A8 of Eupithecia species, holotypes (scale bar = 1 mm; detail of uncus enlarged). 21. E. galsworthyi sp. n.; 22. E. fossaria sp. n.; 23. E. mediata sp. n.; 24. E. caementariata sp. n.; a—other view.

FIGURES 35–39. Habitats of newly described Eupithecia species, China. 35. Qinghai, Laji Shan Mt., locality of E. galsworthyi sp. n.; 36. Yunnan, Nu Jiang valley, locality of E. fossaria sp. n.; 37. Sichuan, surroundings of Maoxian, locality of E. eremiata sp. n.; 38. Sichuan, surroundings of Batang, locality of E. panacea sp. n.; 39. Sichuan, Road Jiuzhaigou/Songpan, locality of E. mediata sp. n. and E. caementariata sp. n.